Posted on: Thursday, March 17, 2005
House panel OKs penalty for underage drinking
By Gordon Y.K. Pang and Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writers
A bill requiring judges to suspend the driver's license of any minor caught drinking or violating other laws dealing with consumption, possession or use of alcohol has advanced from the House Transportation Committee.
Also moving forward at the Legislature yesterday were bills that would create a graduated driver's license for teenagers, restrict the use of hand-held cell phones while driving and finance a study about building an undersea traffic tunnel between Honolulu and 'Ewa.
Before yesterday's vote, Lt. Gov. James Aiona testified that the measure to suspend the driver's license of a minor caught with alcohol is a key part of the administration's drug control strategy.
He cited one study showing that underage drinking cost the state $182 million in 2001, including $41 million in hospital stays, property damage and other costs directly associated with traffic collisions.
Aiona said alcohol is often the drug teens turn to first, and its continued use frequently leads to other drug abuse.
The bill calls for mandatory suspension of the driver's licenses for those under 21 found in violation of liquor laws, regardless of whether those violations involved a car. The length of suspension for a minor already with a license would be 180 days. Exceptions could be made by a judge to allow a minor to drive to and from school as well as a job. Minors not yet licensed to drive would be suspended from seeking a license for 180 days or until age 17, whichever is longer, under an amendment to the bill. The Senate version called for minors without a license to be suspended from seeking a license for 90 days, or until age 18.
Besides the suspensions, minors found guilty of liquor laws would also be sentenced to 75 hours of community service and be required to take an alcohol education program that the minor, or a parent or guardian, must pay for.
Deputy Attorney General Kurt Spohn testified that the bill would act as a strong deterrent from drinking for at least some minors, who view a driver's license among their most precious possessions.
The bill has passed out of the Senate. It now goes to the House Judiciary Committee.
Meanwhile, the Senate Transportation and Government Operations passed several measures dealing with traffic safety and congestion.
One bill (House Bill 150, HD2) would establish a three-stage graduated driver's license program for persons under 18.
It would require young drivers to be accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian when driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., with limited exemptions, and restrict the number of young people who could be in the driver's car at any time.
Traffic safety advocates said graduated driver's license programs, adopted in most other states, dramatically reduce the number of deaths and injuries involving young drivers and their passengers. The measure is supported by the state Transportation and Health Departments, as well as many other safety organizations.
One Mililani mother argued against the measure, however.
"This bill limits the driving privileges of all teen drivers, the majority of whom are responsible," said Becky Gustafson. "It assumes parents can't be trusted to decide who can ride with their child and creates hardships for families."
She suggested that lawmakers scrap the bill and instead require all drivers under age 19 to take a driver's education class before getting their license.
The bill now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Other measures approved by the Transportation Committee yesterday would:
• Appropriate money to study the feasibility of building a 20-mile traffic tunnel under the ocean between Honolulu and 'Ewa. A privately run tunnel would save drivers more than an hour of travel time each way and pay for itself within a matter of years by charging a $2 toll, said Rep. Rida Cabanilla. • Ban the use of handheld cellular phones while driving. Violations would result in a $200 fine. • Ask the O'ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization to study the feasibility of a new route into and out of the Mililani Mauka area. Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070. Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-5460. Correction: A previous version of this story gave incorrect lengths for the suspensions of driver's licenses for minors caught drinking or violating other liquor laws under the bill moving forward in the Legislature.
